Lavandula plant named ‘Voodoo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lavandula  cultivar named ‘Voodoo’ is disclosed, characterized by a long, dark purple terminal bracts with a broad angle of attachment. The new variety can also be characterized its round plant shape and long peduncle length. The new variety is a  Lavandula , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lavandula stoechas.

Variety denomination: ‘Voodoo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lavandula cultivar is a product of a chance discovery by theinventors, Luen Miller and Manuel Morales. The new variety wasdiscovered at a commercial nursery belonging to the inventors, inWatsonville, Calif.

The new variety was selected during Spring of 2011 as a seedling ofundetermined parentage. The seedling was discovered among plantings ofLavandula stoechas ‘Dedication’, unpatented and Lavandula stoechas ‘OttoQuast’, unpatented. The inventors presume these two varieties are theparent varieties.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed byvegetative cuttings Dec. 9, 2011 at the same commercial nursery inWatsonville, Calif. Subsequent propagation has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type throughsuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Voodoo’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Voodoo’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Voodoo’ as a new and distinct Lavandulacultivar:

-   -   1. Dark purple infertile bract coloration.    -   2. Long length of infertile bracts.    -   3. Round plant form.    -   4. Wide angle of attachment and attitude of infertile bracts.    -   5. Long peduncle length.    -   6. Straight peduncles.    -   7. Strong, durable flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ are similar to plants of thepresumed parent, Lavandula stoechas ‘Dedication’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ produceflowers of a darker purple. Flowers of ‘Dedication’ are colored close toPurple-Violet N81D. Additionally, the flowers last longer and produceinfertile bracts that have a wider angle of attachment and attitude than‘Dedication’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ are similar to plants of thepresumed parent; Lavandula stoechas ‘Otto Quast’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ produceflowers of a different color. Flowers of ‘Otto Quast’ are in the rangeof Violet 83A, whereas flowers, of ‘Voodoo’ are near Violet-Blue N89B.Terminal bracts of ‘Otto Quast’ are near Purple-Violet N82C; bracts of‘Voodoo’ are near Violet 83B, with darker veins near Violet-Blue N92A .Additionally, plants of the new variety produce infertile bracts thathave a wider angle of attachment and attitude than ‘Otto Quast’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ are comparable to the varietyLavandula ‘Larkman Bee’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,480. The two Lavandulavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘Voodoo’ differs in producing longer infertile bracts,longer peduncles and an overall longer flower than the comparator.Additionally ‘Voodoo’ produces a plant of stronger vigor and largermature size than the comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Voodoo’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Lavandula ‘Larkman Hazel’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,894.These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristicshowever, the new variety ‘Voodoo’ differs in producing longer infertilebracts, longer peduncles and an overall longer flower than thecomparator. Additionally ‘Voodoo’ produces a plant of stronger vigor andlarger mature size than the comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Voodoo’ grown outdoors in Watsonville, Calif. Theprominent plant in the foreground is ‘Voodoo’. The plant in thebackground, with a less regular, round shape is Lavendula ‘Dedication’.Age of the plants photographed is approximately 50 weeks from a rootedcutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flower.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Voodoo’ plants grown outdoors during, Fall,Winter and Spring in Watsonville, Calif. The growing temperature rangedfrom 10° C. to 35° C. during the day and from 5° C. to 25° C. during thenight. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Voodoo’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 25 to 35 days at 21° C.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 50 weeks from a rooted    cutting.-   Plant spread: Approximately 60 cm.-   Plant height: Approximately 50 cm, to top of flowering plane.    Approximately 30 cm to top of foliar plane.-   Growth rate: Moderate to fast.-   Plant vigor: Moderate to robust.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 16 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.35 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 50.-   Plant habit: Moderately dense, rounded ball shape. Plants typically    pinched once, encouraging lateral branching. No basal branching.-   Stem:    -   -   Juvenile color.—Near Yellow-Green group RHS 145B.        -   Mature color.—Near Yellow-Green 147D.        -   Texture/pubescence.—Densely pubescent.        -   Shape.—Round in cross-section.        -   Strength.—Very strong and flexible.-   Internode length: Average 1.0 cm.

PROPAGATION and ROOTS

-   Time to initiate roots: About 10-14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 25-35 days at 21° C.    -   -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, developing a woody texture            with age. Roots colored near RHS Greyed-Orange 175A, 177A.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf type.—Simple.        -   Quantity.—Average 16 fully expanded per main branch and 20            juvenile leaves.        -   Average length.—Average 3.4 cm. (mature foliage).        -   Average width.—Average 0.4 cm. (mature foliage).        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of all surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Very strong Lavender scent.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147B.            Young foliage under side: Near Green RHS 137D. Mature            foliage upper side: Near Green RHS 137B. Mature foliage            under side: Near Green RHS 137A.        -   Venation.—Type: Reticulate. Venation color upper side: Near            Yellow-Green 144A, only main vein distinguishable from            foliage color. Venation color under side: Near Yellow-Green            145B.        -   Petiole.—Absent.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Main flush late winter to late spring. Lesser    quantities of flowers produced throughout Summer and Fall.-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—Near RHS Near Violet-Blue N89B.        -   Rate of opening.—Varies with climactic conditions;            Approximately 5 to 10 days from colored bud to open flower.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Small single flower in verticillasters arranged in            spikes. Most commonly 8 rows of flowers. Infrequently 6 or            10 rows. Flowers have small bracts, and large showy terminal            bracts. One flower spike per lateral stem. Number of            individual flowers per spike: Average 144. Fragrance: Very            strong lavender scent. Flower lastingness: Individual            flowers last approximately 2 to 3 weeks, inflorescence            remain ornamental for approximately 4 to 6 weeks.            Self-cleaning. Corolla shape: Salverform. Petal Number: 5.            Petals Fused or Unfused: Fused at base. Petal apex: Obtuse.            Petal base: Fused. Petal Shape: Top 2 lobes obovate, lower 3            lobes ovate. Petal Margin: Entire. Petal Surfaces: Glabrous.            Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. (corolla tube). Diameter:            Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence size, excluding terminal bracts.—Length:            Approximately 5.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Shape:            Cylindrical. Coloration of individual flowers, excluding            terminal bracts: Immature: Near Violet-Blue N89B. Mature:            Near Violet-Blue N89B, base N155D. Fading: Near Violet-Blue            N92B, base N155D. Calyx Width: 0.2 cm. Calyx Length:            0.95 cm. Calyx Shape: Flattened tube. Calyx color: RHS            Yellow-Green 144C. Bract shape: Elliptic. Bract apex: Acute            with a cusp. Bract Color: Near Yellow-Green 144C, cusp            colored Greyed-Purple 187A.-   Terminal bracts (sterile): Quantity: 4 large and 1 or 2 smaller per    inflorescence.    -   -   Large bracts.—Attitude and angle of attachment: At least 2            of the large bracts are attached at an obtuse angle, near            75°. Terminal bracts and an upward and outwardly angled            attitude. Length: Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Form: Petaloid. Margin: Entire and            undulating. Surface: Smooth. Appearance: Matte. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Vein Pattern:            Reticulate. Duration on Plant: Approximately 12 weeks, with            good color. Persistent. Color: Upper side of immature bract:            Near RHS Violet 83C, base lighter, 83D. Veins darker, near            Violet-Blue N92A. Under side of immature bract: Near RHS            Violet 83B, base lighter, 83C. Veins darker, near            Violet-Blue N92A. Upper side of mature bract: Near RHS            Violet 83B. Under side of mature bract: Near RHS Violet 83A.            Bract color fading to: Near RHS Purple 79B.        -   Small bracts.—Quantity: typically 1 or 2. Length:            Approximately 2.0 to 3.0 cm. Width: Approximately 0.8 cm,            unfolded. Apex: Shallow bi-lobe. Margin: Entire, undulating.            Base: Attemiate. Aspect: Undulating and folded inward at the            mid-vein. Duration on Plant: Approximately 12 weeks.            Persistent. Color: Upper side of immature bract: Near RHS            Violet 83C, base lighter, 83D. Veins darker, near            Violet-Blue N92A. Under side of immature bract: Near RHS            Violet 83B, base lighter, 83C. Veins darker, near            Violet-Blue N92A. Upper side of mature bract: Near RHS            Violet 83B. Under side of mature bract: Near RHS Violet 83A.            Bract color fading to: Near RHS Purple 79B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—Average range approximately 9 to 11 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Aspect.—Very straight.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138C.        -   Texture.—Densely pubescent and ridged.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—4.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.05 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS White N155A.        -   Pollen quantity.—Pollen production not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.3 cm. Color: Near RHS White            N155A.        -   Stigma.—Length: Approximately 0.05 cm. Shape: Linear. Color:            Near RHS Violet-Blue N92B. Ovary: Minute and immeasurable.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Seed production not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Lavandula stoechas. has been    observed.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Hardy perennial. Tolerates    high temperature to at least 32° C. Tolerates low temperatures to    −12° C. While specific drought tolerance has not been observed, once    plants are established very little water is necessary to maintain    plants.-   Fruit/seed production: Fruit and seed production not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plantnamed ‘Voodoo’ as herein illustrated and described.